FUEL TV to air six 2012 UFC events, will become home for 'UFC Prelims' specials

While the broadcast partnership between the UFC and FOX continues to crystallize, George Greenberg, FUEL TV’s executive vice president and general manager, sees big things ahead for his FOX affiliate.

One quarter of the cable channel’s hours will be allotted to the UFC starting in 2012, and plans to host the recently announced “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” are in process. The partnership officially kicks off on the New Year when FUEL hosts a marathon of UFC programming.

“We’re very much looking forward to Jan. 1 when the UFC lands on FUEL TV,” Greenberg said.

In a press conference held earlier today in Rio de Janeiro, the UFC announced the first international edition of its seminal reality show to feature coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. The program debuts in March on Brazilian network Globo.

UFC president Dana White previously hinted that the show would air stateside on FUEL TV. However, Greenberg today said that there is “no firm deal” to broadcast international versions of the show in Brazil and other seasons targeted for Canada and Australia.

With that said, Greenberg didn’t anticipate many obstacles in completing that deal and said ongoing negotiations are positive.

“We believe there’s plenty of room to launch an international ‘TUF’ edition on FUEL TV, and we look forward to doing that,” he said.

As for the domestic versions of the show, which are set to air on FOX affiliate FX, Greenberg said FUEL has access to “The Ultimate Fighter” 24 hours after it airs on the cable partner.

UFC 142 prelims yet to find a home, international broadcast plans not set

Fans may have to get back on their laptops to watch preliminary fights in the UFC’s third trip to Brazil.

Greenberg said the “dark” fights of UFC 142, which takes place Jan. 14 in Rio De Janeiro, are not scheduled to air on his network. He said it was “very possible” that they would air on another broadcast platform, though he didn’t say which.

FUEL TV has been designated as the home of the bulk of UFC preliminary fights starting in 2012.

As to the presence of FUEL TV programming on its international affiliates, there is little known about how fans outside the U.S. will be able to watch UFC programming.

Greenberg, however, said that the network’s demographic reach has shifted with the new UFC partnership, which could encourage international FOX affiliates in Australia and Portugal to carry UFC programming. Beyond existing affiliates, it’s unclear how international fans will be able to watch.

“Our affiliates know that we’re expanding our demographic base, but they also know that the UFC is just starting to explode globally,” he said. “We have high hopes for this sport, certainly domestically, but internationally, it’s going to blow up.”

Domestically, Greenberg said he expects the total viewership of FUEL to increase tenfold. He also verified White’s earlier claim that the network has seen an 11 percent increase in its broadcast reach since the UFC’s deal with FOX was inked.

“We know that this show is a magnet for viewers, and perhaps, without a doubt, the most loyal viewership of any fan base I’ve ever seen in any sport,” he said.

Six UFC on FUEL TV events expected for 2012

UFC on FUEL TV 1, which takes place Feb. 15 and features Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez, is but the first offering of a series of fight cards planned for the FOX affiliate.

Greenberg said six total events are planned for 2012. The follow to February’s event is currently still in the planning stages.

“Basically the biggest thing is to book the venues that we’re going to have the fights in next year,” he said.

Preliminary fights “programming gold”

UFC fights streamed on Facebook are a boon to hardcore fans who don’t want to miss a moment of action inside the octagon.

Starting in 2012, FUEL TV will replace Facebook as the home of preliminary-card fights. But because the programming is streamed live on the Web, information about their impact on viewership – and what it means for FUEL TV’s numbers moving forward – has been hard to come by.

Although hard numbers weren’t available, Greenberg estimated the UFC on FOX prelims, which aired on FOX Deportes, FOXSports.com and Facebook, drew around 150,000 viewers. Moving forward, he expects those numbers to hold on FUEL TV and help bolster programming on bigger affiliates FX and FOX.

“We look at that as programming gold,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Those preliminary fights are going to be awesome for this network.”
(Pictured: George Greenberg)

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